According to a new study, mothers of children with food allergies have a greater sense of empowerment than fathers, but they also report a lower food-allergy-related quality of life (FAQOL). In addition, parents of children with milk and egg allergies report a lower FAQOL than parents of children with peanut or tree nut allergies.

FARE provided partial funding for this multi-center study, which was published online in the Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology on Dec. 6.

The researchers studied the families of 876 children who met strict diagnostic criteria for food allergy. Most study participants (64 percent) were parents of boys who were two to five years old, with an average of one sibling per household. Most parents were married (95 percent) and 86 percent were college-educated.

Overall, a higher level of empowerment – defined as “a process through which people gain greater control of decisions and actions affecting their health” – was not associated with a higher quality of life. Not surprisingly, both mothers and fathers of children with a history of anaphylaxis reported a lower FAQOL than parents of children who had experienced only mild or moderate food allergy reactions.

“Although parents of children with food allergy might be empowered to care for their child, they continue to experience impaired FAQOL owing to fears of allergen exposure beyond their control,” the researchers concluded. “More work assessing mothers and fathers is needed to ascertain the degree to which these findings are due to personal experiences with daily caregiving, differences in clinical care or counseling received by families, or additional contextual factors.”

Educate your friends, family members, neighbors and community. You can donate a book about food allergies to a library, give a presentation at a school or gathering, or pass out some of FARE’s free resources.

Sign up for the ResearchMatch food allergy sub-registry. Developed with the assistance of FARE’s Medical Advisory Board and funded by the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, this sub-registry connects individuals and families to new food allergy clinical trials nationwide.

Join our Advocates Network to make your voice heard on federal and state legislation.

Create your own fundraiser. From participating in athletic challenges to having a lemonade stand in your front yard, there are lots of fun, creative ways to help raise funds for food allergy research, education, advocacy and awareness programs. Your event will not only support FARE’s mission, it will spark a conversation about food allergies, giving you an opportunity to educate others in your community.

Become a FARE member. Every new member makes a difference and helps us make the world better for people with food allergies.

What food allergy actions will you take this year? Share your suggestions in the comments!

As we welcome in the New Year, we at FARE want to express our heartfelt thanks for your support. Your donations, personal advocacy, education efforts, and commitment to making the world better for people with food allergies helped us accomplish great things in 2014 – and with your ongoing support we can continue to create a safe, inclusive world for people with food allergies and seek new treatments.

For more than 20 years, FARE and its legacy organizations have been dedicated to improving the lives of individuals and families managing food allergies through research, education, advocacy and awareness efforts. Our work has focused both on helping people live well with food allergies every day, and on making the critical research investments needed to accelerate the development of life-changing and life-saving treatments.

In anticipation of the opportunities and challenges the food allergy community will face in the months and years to come, we have closely examined the principles that guide our work. Today, we are proud to announce our new mission statement, which better captures our commitment to the individuals and families we serve.

FARE’s mission is to improve the quality of life and the health of individuals with food allergies, and to provide them hope through the promise of new treatments.

Our work is organized around three core tenets:

LIFE. Support the ability of individuals with food allergies to live safe, productive lives with the respect of others through our education and advocacy initiatives.

HEALTH. Enhance the healthcare access of individuals with food allergies to state-of-the-art diagnosis and treatment

HOPE. Encourage and fund research in both industry and academia that promises new therapies to improve the allergic condition.

Our new mission statement reinforces our ongoing commitment of service to the food allergy community through education and advocacy initiatives, adds a new focus on improving families’ access to the quality healthcare they need to avoid anaphylactic emergencies, and provides a fresh perspective on diversifying research investments to explore life-changing therapies. Supporting all of these tenets will be FARE’s continuing work to promote food allergy awareness and a safe, inclusive world for people with food allergies.

2015 will be an exciting year of new developments at FARE and for the food allergy community. Your support helps ensure we can continue to change and save lives. Thank you for your dedication to FARE and the food allergy community – we wish you a safe, healthy and happy 2015.

If you have been prescribed epinephrine, FARE recommends that you carry two epinephrine auto-injectors with you at all times to make sure you have quick access to this life-saving medication. It’s also important to replace any expired auto-injectors right away so that you always have an up-to-date device.

We know those prescription costs can add up, so we encourage individuals and families who are managing food allergies to take advantage of the following options to help make this medication more affordable.

Please note: The links below are provided for convenience only. FARE does not review, test, sponsor, endorse or recommend any products or services that may appear on our blog.

Mylan Specialty’s “$0 Co-Pay Card” for EpiPen® Auto-Injector

With the $0 co-pay card, you could be eligible to save on up to three EpiPen 2-Pak® or EpiPen Jr 2-Pak® cartons (with a maximum benefit of up to $100 per EpiPen 2-Pak) every time you fill your prescription, now through December 31, 2015.

This card entitles most patients to pay $0 out of pocket for their Auvi-Q prescriptions, with a maximum benefit of $100 per two-pack of Auvi-Q®, up to a maximum of three two-packs per prescription. Fill out the form to join the “Support & Savings Program” to access the offer. This offer can be used an unlimited number of times until the coupon offer expires on December 31, 2015.

The approved generic for Adrenaclick® may provide a lower-cost option to patients. Commercially insured patients will receive their epinephrine auto-injector at $0 cost. Cash paying patients will receive up to $300 off their out-of-pocket cost (This offer is valid for a maximum savings of $100 per pack (limit of 3 packs)).

Be advised that the devices operate in different ways, so it is important to discuss your options with your doctor and be properly trained to use the device. You can find tips for getting the auto-injector you want and links to important information about each product, and training videos on how to use them on our the epinephrine auto-injector page of our website. Please note that these offers are not valid for prescriptions covered by or submitted for reimbursement under Medicaid, Medicare, or similar federal or state programs.

Cooking with your child is a great family activity and a way to introduce them to food allergy management skills. As you bake, blend and beat ingredients, talk with your child about how to stay safe while preparing meals. Here are a few tips for how to get kids involved – visit FARE’s website for more!

Before you begin, make your kitchen kid-friendly and stock items for your child to use. Set aside safe tools (spatulas, spoons, mixing bowls, etc.), and let him or her pick which to use.

With your child’s help, select an accessible location in the pantry and refrigerator to store safe food. (You may want to establish rules about when it is okay for your child to get certain items.)

Work with your child to select an easy labeling solution for safe foods. Some families use different colored containers for allergen-free food. Others use stickers or labels. Test your child to make sure he or she understands which label means “safe” and which means “off-limits.”

Choose recipes together. Browse through cookbooks with your child and select recipes to try. If a recipe calls for an ingredient to which your child or a family member is allergic, talk about safe substitutions. As your child starts to understand more about allergy-friendly cooking, ask him or her for ideas on what to substitute.

Show your child how to read ingredient labels. Teach him or her to slow down while reviewing the list by touching a finger to each ingredient indicated, then have your child do the same.

As you begin to cook, assign age-appropriate tasks, such as measuring or mixing ingredients, greasing a pan or tossing together salad ingredients. Even a very young child can get involved by selecting cupcake liners or shaking sprinkles onto a cookie.

The holiday season always presents a lot to juggle, but adding food allergies on top of the typical shopping, hosting, and social occasions can make it a stressful time of year. FARE has put together a Holiday Survival Guide with key elements to help you have a safe and fun holiday!

A stockpile of recipes
Having a number of go-to recipes on hand for all types of seasonal dishes (appetizer, main course, make-ahead meals, desserts, etc.) can help take the stress out of cooking. If a family member or friend asks what they can make that would be safe for the allergies you’re managing, you’ll have a number on hand for them to choose from.

A refresher course in cross-contact
With hectic cooking and baking happening in your kitchen, it’s not uncommon to make a mistake when it comes to cross-contact. Take a few
minutes to review FARE’s new Creating a Food Allergy Safety Zone at Home booklet to learn how to safely prepare food and eliminate cross-contact risks.

A planned calendar
Contact friends and family to see who is planning on hosting events so there are fewer surprises to your schedule. This is also a great time to remind any hosts or visitors about your or your child’s allergies, so they can work with you to make sure you are able to safely attend.

Epinephrine and Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Emergency Care Plan
Remember your epinephrine auto-injectors go where you go! Take some time to review your emergency care plan with visiting family members who could be called upon to assist in case of an emergency.

Laughter
Keeping your spirits up and a sense of humor can help you stay in the holiday spirit. Check out this parody video from Kyle Dine for a laugh with your family, titled 12 Days of an Allergy-free Christmas.

For the last two years, people have stopped to stare at the Michaels family’s Halloween display. While most homes have a few jack-o-lanterns sitting by their door during the Halloween season, the Michaels family has dozens displayed on a homemade wall – all donated to them in an effort to raise awareness about food allergies. We asked Claudia Michaels, the young woman responsible for this creative fundraiser, to tell us more about her idea and how it’s helped rally her community:

What are your food allergies? What’s it like having food allergies?

I am allergic to peanuts and tree nuts. I was diagnosed when I was about five years old, after having reactions to trace amounts of peanuts. It’s challenging; I have to check the ingredients for everything I eat, which can be very time-consuming. This was not a big issue when I was with my parents or with a friend, but it made class trips and other similar outings much more difficult. This was when I didn’t have the power to say, “I’m going to go somewhere else to eat by myself.” I was not old enough to get a taxi or drive myself to a different restaurant. In these circumstances I ended up sitting in a restaurant either with my own food brought from home or waiting until I got home to eat. The worst part for me now is the lack of awareness. Many people don’t understand the severity of my allergies, and think I am being overly cautious.

Can you tell us about your Halloween food allergy fundraiser?

My project is called the FAREmeadows Pumpkin Wall (a pun based off of the name of my street), and had the slogan “Food Allergies ‘R Scare-E”. I bought construction scaffolding and planks of wood, and used these materials to build a wall and set it up in my yard. I asked friends and neighbors to bring a carved pumpkin and a small donation for FARE. I handed out flyers that advertised both the wall, and my FARE Walk for Food Allergy page. I carved the word FARE into the first pumpkin I put on the wall, and painted it teal for FARE’s Teal Pumpkin Project, an effort to raise awareness for food allergies. By Halloween there were about 30 pumpkins on the wall, and I had raised enough money for the FARE Walk to be the top individual fundraiser in my city ($1,080)!

Why did you want to do it? Why was it was important to you?

When I was younger, my parents took me to see a huge wall of pumpkins in another neighborhood in our city. I always loved going to see the wall. Last year, since I was too old to trick-or-treat; I decided to start a wall in my neighborhood. I looked up instructions and tips online for starting the project, and came across a teenage girl who had built a wall to raise money for her friend with cancer. I thought it was a great idea to raise money and awareness through the wall. Halloween has always been hard for me because of my allergies.

How can you be a good friend to someone with food allergies?

Make a conscious effort to understand their allergies. Ask questions about what they can and cannot eat. I am lucky enough to have neighbors on my street who have done this, so on Halloween they get nut-free candy for me. Most importantly, take their allergy seriously.

What advice would you give a younger kid or a friend who was just diagnosed with food allergies? What advice would you give to someone wanting to get more involved, or run a fundraiser of their own?

Do not try to hide your allergy. So many kids who are diagnosed with food allergies do not tell people about them. Food allergies are nothing to be ashamed of. They simply make you unique.

If you are thinking about running a fundraiser, make it personal. Tell people your story. I chose to link my fundraiser to my favorite holiday, and then I made it personal by telling people about how difficult Halloween can be for food allergy kids.

Holiday cooking and baking can be a hectic activity, as well as confusing! Here are some common questions about holiday ingredients and food allergies:

Is nutmeg a nut?

No! Although the word nutmeg contains the word “nut,” it is not related to peanuts or tree nuts. It is a dried seed, which is ground to make a spice.

Does eggnog contain eggs?

Typically, yes. Eggnog is a traditional holiday drink made with milk, sugar and eggs. There are currently allergy-friendly versions on the market that use milk and egg alternatives.

Does butternut squash contain nuts?

No. While this orange squash may have a nutty taste, it is not related to nuts, nor contain nuts.

Do potato pancakes contain common allergens, like breakfast pancakes do?

It depends on the recipe. Some latkes are wheat-free, but contain egg. Some are egg-free, but contain wheat. Some are cooked in oil, and some are cooked in butter. It is possible to make potato pancakes that are free of the top eight allergens, though. Here is a recipe to try.

Does cocoa powder contain milk?

Cocoa powder (not hot cocoa mix) is the powder of the ground cacao bean from which a portion of the fat has been removed. It is typically is milk-free, but you should always check the label to confirm.

We hope these answers help make your holiday cooking a bit less stressful!

A single food allergy education session for school nurses helps ensure better management of the disease and increased availability of epinephrine auto-injectors, according to a recent study published online Nov. 8 by the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: In Practice.

In 2011, nurses employed by the Houston Independent School District participated in a training session that focused on identifying and treating food allergy reactions, including hands-on practice with auto-injectors. To evaluate the effectiveness of this education initiative, the nurses took two surveys: the first in 2010, before they took the class, and the second in 2012. The surveys evaluated the number of students with food allergies, the number of allergic reactions and the availability of auto-injectors.

(It is important to note that Texas does not yet have a separate, specific stock epinephrine law and according to the study, students must have their own prescribed epinephrine auto-injector in order to receive treatment for anaphylaxis. Stock epinephrine is referenced in the state’s school food allergy guidelines; FARE is working to improve access to epinephrine in Texas by supporting legislative efforts to pass a stock epinephrine law.)

The study was designed to test the hypothesis that one training session would increase identification of children with food allergies, decrease allergic reactions, and increase the availability of auto-injectors. Importantly, 84 percent of the schools were low socioeconomic schools, where availability of epinephrine is lower.

After the nurses received training, both low- and non-low socioeconomic schools showed a significant increase in auto-injectors. In addition, from 2010 to 2012, allergic reactions decreased: 15 percent of children with food allergies experienced reactions in 2010, while there were no reactions in 2012. The number of students with prescribed auto-injectors also increased. Noting that the impact of the training continued without further education, the authors conclude that “this single educational session made a dramatic and sustainable impact on the availability of lifesaving epinephrine in a large urban school district,” providing “a model for a feasible, nationwide school food allergy education plan to enhance the safety of children with food allergies.”

In most high schools and universities, homecoming weekend is all about football, dances, and parades. However, at Kutztown University this year, Salvator Rosato made it an occasion to raise awareness about food allergies and funds for FARE.

Sal and his friend Carly at the homecoming game

Sal recently had an allergic reaction while away at school, and was aided by his friend, Zach, who helped him quickly seek medical attention and stuck with him through the emergency. This incident inspired Sal to make and sell buttons that said “Be a PAL, Vote for Sal,” to raise awareness about food allergies and the components of FARE’s “Be a PAL: Protect a Life from Food Allergies” education program. Sal sold hundreds of buttons, and we asked him to tell us more about his fundraiser and inspiration:

What are your food allergies? What’s it like having food allergies?

Currently, I only have a milk allergy. The smallest amount will trigger an attack for me. Cross-contact is a big issue for me. When I was younger, I was also allergic to eggs and soy but I outgrew them when I was 10 years old. I feel like being diagnosed with food allergies doesn’t make me different from other people. I just have to be more careful when eating food, especially at restaurants or places where I’m not familiar with the food choices. I go everywhere with back-up food in case I need it. The phrase “Sal Safe” is on many of my food containers.

Wherever I go, even at home, I have to make sure nothing has been in contact with milk products and I carry my medicine bag with me filled with epinephrine auto-injectors and antihistamine everywhere. I’m lucky that my university, Kutztown University of Pennsylvania, understands that my milk allergy is severe and helps me avoid dairy products in the cafeteria. Even my marching band professor makes sure there is “safe” food for me to eat when we are on the road.

Tell us about your fundraiser for FARE. Why did you want to do it? Why was it was important to you?

I was graciously nominated by my peers for homecoming court at my university. I thought since I had a lot of the students’ attention on campus, I might as well use this opportunity in a positive way by raising money for a worthy cause. Many students and faculty were promoting awareness for breast cancer research since October is breast cancer awareness month. I wanted to do something different and that was a part of my life. I did an online search for “food allergy awareness” and then FARE’s website, foodallergy.org, was the first one that popped up in the search engine. I began to read all the research on your site and interesting facts about food allergies. I had no idea that 15 million people in the United States had food allergies and I thought I could make a difference.

I understood how food allergies affected me personally and I’m sure I wasn’t the only one who had a severe milk allergy like me. Luckily when I was in high school, my mother was a band booster mom for my marching band. She would make buttons for the band and sporting activities to raise money for the band. I asked her if she wanted to relive her glory days and remake some buttons for my fundraiser. She agreed and helped me make about 250 buttons to sell. I started selling them during the week that students were voting for homecoming. The buttons said “Be a Pal, Vote for Sal”… I got the catchphrase from FARE’s Be a Pal campaign. People were able to obtain a button with a donation of one dollar or more. Some of my friends got one; some of my friends gave me enough donations to obtain 20 of them.

Many people came up to me and ask what FARE was all about and why food allergy awareness is such a concern. It gave me the opportunity to educate them about my personal experiences, talk about cross-contact, and explain the difference between lactose intolerance and milk allergy. Even some of my professors were interested and donated money to my cause. I raised just under $300 thanks to the help from my mom, dad and friends.

Can you tell us more about your recent reaction, your “PAL” Zach, and how he helped?

I’m in the Kutztown University Marching Unit (band) and we were having a family dinner one night at the “Drum Line House” as we call it. We had the entire drum line and front ensemble at the apartment and we were going to eat a spaghetti and meatball dinner. Unfortunately for me, the spaghetti had butter on the noodles but the meatballs were milk-free. I made sure the meatballs had not been exposed to milk and they were using a clean spoon. I had about two meatballs and then just hung out with some friends at the apartment. About 30 minutes after eating, I noticed I was feeling a little sick, my ears were itching, and I was just getting tired, so I left and went back to my own apartment. I took an hour nap in my apartment and woke up around 10 p.m. When I woke up, I was covered with hives, beet red in color, and I was having difficulty breathing. I immediately used my epinephrine auto-injector and called my friend, Zach. (Editor’s Note: Use epinephrine at the first sign of an allergic reaction and call 911.) He is aware of how serious my allergy is and immediately picked me up from my apartment and took me to public safety at Kutztown University. While I was at public safety, they called for an ambulance. While waiting for the ambulance to arrive, Zach was comforting me and trying to keep me calm. Zach also followed the ambulance to the hospital and stayed at the hospital with me for eight hours with my mother. Zach was reassuring and kept me positive while with me. Without him, I’m not sure if I would have made it to the hospital in time to get the necessary care I needed.

How can you be a good friend to someone with food allergies?

It’s easy; just treat them like normal human beings. Don’t treat me differently. I can’t tell you how many times I’m offered food from someone and I respectfully decline because of my food allergies. People assume that being allergic to milk products is the same thing as being lactose intolerant, which is far from the truth. A lot of people believe that if I just have a little milk, I should be fine. Even the smallest amounts of milk gives me hives, causes vomiting, and could make it difficult for me breathe and force me to use my epinephrine auto-injector.

Another way to be a good friend is if you invite a friend to your house; make sure you have food that they can eat. If you don’t, that’s fine — just make sure you tell them ahead of time so they can bring their own. Also, most of my friends know how to use an epinephrine auto-injector in case I’m unable to because of a sudden allergy attack. Make sure you train your closest friends and loved ones on how to use one in case of emergencies.

What advice would you give a younger kid or a friend who was just diagnosed with food allergies?

Nothing too crazy is really going to change with the way you live; you just have to be careful with what you eat and your surroundings. Yes, you might have to bring your own food to certain events but you just can’t let little things like that get you down. Make sure when you go out to eat, that the restaurant understands cross-contact so you don’t get sick. Always carry a backup food in case you are in a situation where you feel the food is not safe to eat. Also, always carry medicine on you in case of a food allergy reaction. Always read the ingredients on everything. You will become a master of reading ingredients after a while. Make sure whoever is handling your food knows of your new food allergies.